The Jacksons: An American Dream

The miniseries was executive produced by Suzanne de Passe and Stan Margulies, produced by Joyce Eliason, Jermaine Jackson and Margaret Maldonado, and directed by Karen Arthur. The movie was filmed in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, where director Arthur had previously filmed her feature film Lady Beware. The miniseries features an all-star cast, including Lawrence Hilton Jacobs as the Jacksons' patriarch Joe Jackson, and Angela Bassett as the family matriarch Katherine Jackson; Abolade David Olatunde, Alex Burrall, Jason Weaver and the late Wylie Draper, who died the following year, played Michael Jackson in different eras, while Bumper Robinson and Terrence Howard played Jackie Jackson in different eras. Jermaine Jackson was portrayed by his son Jermaine Jackson Jr. and Colin Steele; Shakiem Jamar Evans and Angel Vargas played Tito Jackson; Floyd Myers Jr., Jacen Wilkerson, and Marcus Maurice played Marlon Jackson; Margaret Avery played Katherine's mother, Martha Scruse; Holly Robinson Peete played Diana Ross; Billy Dee Williams played Berry Gordy; and Vanessa Williams played de Passe.

The Jacksons: An American Dream is based on Katherine Jackson's My Family autobiography. A ratings success, the program won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Choreography, while the performances of Hilton Jacobs and Bassett received widespread acclaim.